LAGOS – Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) has disclosed that foreign carriers engage in capital flight to the tune of $3bn annually from Nigeria.
The body also called on the Federal Government to support Air Peace, which about two weeks ago commenced one of its international operations to Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (UAE) about two weeks ago, saying that Nigeria needed to play the aero politics like other countries.
Capt. Nogie Meggison, Chairman, AON made the statement yesterday at the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos in an interview with aviation journalists.
According to Meggison, foreign carriers had continued to dominate the Nigerian sky over the years, with attendance financial loss to the economy of the country.
Meggison lamented that 85 per cent of Nigerian airlines that failed on the international routes was mainly due to aero politics, which the government had refused to participate in.
AON charged the Federal Government to put its full weight behind Air Peace and give the carrier all the support it required to succeed on the route in the face of stiff competition and aero politics, which the carrier would face in the future.
“Air Peace has taken a bold step and they should be encouraged by Nigerians. The airline’s maiden flight to Dubai means more jobs for our Nigerian youths; it means jobs for over 600 unemployed Nigerian pilots; it means hope for our various Aviation Training Academies at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria, International Aviation College, Ilorin and the International Helicopter Flying School, Enugu.
“It also means more travel choices for Nigerian travellers at affordable rates; it means more contribution to the Nigerian economy and the Gross Domestic Product (GDP); it means increased growth for the Nigerian aviation sector.
“It means the transfer of technology and technical expertise; and it also means a reduction in capital flight from the country by foreign airlines. Government therefore needs to rally round Air Peace as a proud Nigerian operator and give the airline all the support to succeed.”
The emphasised that it was the entrance of Air Peace to Dubai route, made it the fourth attempt any Nigerian airline would make foray into the international market, stressing that many of the airlines that went on international routes before the airline collapsed due mainly to aero-politics.
He insisted that aero politics was the bane of Bellview Arik Air and Med-View Airline on international operations, stressing that they were frustrated out of operations by sheer regulatory technicalities.
Meggison charged the government to stand tall with Nigerian Airlines and bring the full weight of its political machinery and influence behind any of its airlines that ply international routes.
He further charged Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to urgently provide Air Peace with a prominent space for its private lounge on the air side of the international wing of Lagos airport designed in the colours of the airline to show its status as a Nigerian flag carrier.
The post Annual Capital Flight Is $3bn – AON appeared first on Independent Newspapers Nigeria.
Source: Independent
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